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SHEENS CONFIDENT LOTE TUQIRI WILL PROVIDE VALUE FOR MONEY
By Wayne Cousins
Friday, 5 February 2010
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens admits Lote Tuqiri is value for money but has issued a warning not to expect too much too soon from the new recruit.
The dual international signed a three-year deal in England this week to join the Wests Tigers.
His impending arrival has already led to an increase in membership and interest from prospective sponsors.
“Lote is a long way from being back in the NRL and back to playing brilliant footy,’’ Sheens said.
“We have got a fair bit of work to do in how long will it take him to fit in and pick up the pace of the NRL as he has been out of it for a few years.
“That’s why I am positive about the three years. We will look at bringing him back up to speed, getting him to know the guys and getting to know the language of the club as far as our plays are concerned.
“It will take a bit of time so having a three year deal is an advantage for us. Overall, I think we will get very good value for money back over that period of time.”
Whilst acknowledging Tuqiri will add plenty of size and strength to the outside backs when he arrives after his stint with Leicester Tigers is completed, Sheens was more immediately concerned about the recovery of powerhouse winger Taniela Tuiaki.
The Kiwi international has struggled since breaking an ankle in the round 24 loss to Parramatta last year.
“It is minor keyhole surgery to clean the joint out. It depends on what the specialist finds and how Taniela reacts is going to be the issue,’’ Sheens said.
“I am really not counting on him to start the season but how long he will be out for is speculation. And I am not going to speculate.
“We are hoping the surgery will clear up the ankle a bit more as he is struggling with it at the moment.
“I would have liked to have had Tuqiri and Tuiaki in the same team, rather than one replacing the other.
“Having big strong outside backs starting your sets off is more and more today an important factor in the game.”
Sheens said former Cronulla utility back Mitch Brown and ex Penrith back Geoff Daniela were in the mix to replace Tuiaki.
“Brown has been doing a great job out on the edge. He is a big kid with plenty of speed. He will keep the backs honest all year and he has the versatility to play centre and full-back himself,’’ Sheens said.
“Geoff Daniela is also going very well and I am very pleased with him.
“From the end of last season, we still have our centre pairings in Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford, there is our other winger in Beau Ryan, we have our full-back in Tim Moltzen and Benji Marshall is there at five-eighth. Robert Lui will probably start at half-back. I’m pretty excited about that group.”
Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah felt the buzz amongst the players knowing Tuqiri was coming.
“He is a quality player. I know he hasn’t played league for a while but he is a superstar and I am sure it is not going to take him long to make his mark back in rugby league.’’ Farah said.
“There will be an adjusting period. Lote is going to have to learn our plays and our team structure around here. It will take him a while to learn all that and to fit into the side.
“Once he does, he is one of those players who will hit the ground running.
“All of the boys are excited about him signing. I suppose if you ask a couple of the boys who play in the wing and full-back positions there is a bit of extra competition there for them.
“We all know that it is a great signing for the club on and off the field and there is great depth there for our squad. It is going to be a positive to have him here.”
Farah feels the team is set for a big season.
“Even before Lote signed, I was excited about the season ahead. Having him here makes it that little more exciting,’’ he said.
“We are going to have a decent backline and it will be pretty big in size with Taniela Tuiaki on the wing. Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford in the centres are not small in size either.
“We are going to have size right through our squad and that is something we have lacked in the past.
“I am sure Tim is up at 3am thinking about ways he can get Lote in the game. He never stops thinking about those sort of things.”
International second-rower Gareth Ellis echoed Farah’s comments, saying he too felt the signs were good for 2010.
“We are really confident about this year. The club has recruited very well and the squad is the strongest it has ever been,’’ Ellis said.
“The recent addition of Lote Tuqiri is a big boost for the club. He is a fantastic player and he will be a great addition. He will be one of those players everyone looks out for on the team sheet and I’m really excited about playing alongside him.
“Lote has experience behind him in that he has played for his country in two codes and has been playing around the world, so he is going to bring a lot to our game.”
By Wayne Cousins
Friday, 5 February 2010
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens admits Lote Tuqiri is value for money but has issued a warning not to expect too much too soon from the new recruit.
The dual international signed a three-year deal in England this week to join the Wests Tigers.
His impending arrival has already led to an increase in membership and interest from prospective sponsors.
“Lote is a long way from being back in the NRL and back to playing brilliant footy,’’ Sheens said.
“We have got a fair bit of work to do in how long will it take him to fit in and pick up the pace of the NRL as he has been out of it for a few years.
“That’s why I am positive about the three years. We will look at bringing him back up to speed, getting him to know the guys and getting to know the language of the club as far as our plays are concerned.
“It will take a bit of time so having a three year deal is an advantage for us. Overall, I think we will get very good value for money back over that period of time.”
Whilst acknowledging Tuqiri will add plenty of size and strength to the outside backs when he arrives after his stint with Leicester Tigers is completed, Sheens was more immediately concerned about the recovery of powerhouse winger Taniela Tuiaki.
The Kiwi international has struggled since breaking an ankle in the round 24 loss to Parramatta last year.
“It is minor keyhole surgery to clean the joint out. It depends on what the specialist finds and how Taniela reacts is going to be the issue,’’ Sheens said.
“I am really not counting on him to start the season but how long he will be out for is speculation. And I am not going to speculate.
“We are hoping the surgery will clear up the ankle a bit more as he is struggling with it at the moment.
“I would have liked to have had Tuqiri and Tuiaki in the same team, rather than one replacing the other.
“Having big strong outside backs starting your sets off is more and more today an important factor in the game.”
Sheens said former Cronulla utility back Mitch Brown and ex Penrith back Geoff Daniela were in the mix to replace Tuiaki.
“Brown has been doing a great job out on the edge. He is a big kid with plenty of speed. He will keep the backs honest all year and he has the versatility to play centre and full-back himself,’’ Sheens said.
“Geoff Daniela is also going very well and I am very pleased with him.
“From the end of last season, we still have our centre pairings in Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford, there is our other winger in Beau Ryan, we have our full-back in Tim Moltzen and Benji Marshall is there at five-eighth. Robert Lui will probably start at half-back. I’m pretty excited about that group.”
Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah felt the buzz amongst the players knowing Tuqiri was coming.
“He is a quality player. I know he hasn’t played league for a while but he is a superstar and I am sure it is not going to take him long to make his mark back in rugby league.’’ Farah said.
“There will be an adjusting period. Lote is going to have to learn our plays and our team structure around here. It will take him a while to learn all that and to fit into the side.
“Once he does, he is one of those players who will hit the ground running.
“All of the boys are excited about him signing. I suppose if you ask a couple of the boys who play in the wing and full-back positions there is a bit of extra competition there for them.
“We all know that it is a great signing for the club on and off the field and there is great depth there for our squad. It is going to be a positive to have him here.”
Farah feels the team is set for a big season.
“Even before Lote signed, I was excited about the season ahead. Having him here makes it that little more exciting,’’ he said.
“We are going to have a decent backline and it will be pretty big in size with Taniela Tuiaki on the wing. Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford in the centres are not small in size either.
“We are going to have size right through our squad and that is something we have lacked in the past.
“I am sure Tim is up at 3am thinking about ways he can get Lote in the game. He never stops thinking about those sort of things.”
International second-rower Gareth Ellis echoed Farah’s comments, saying he too felt the signs were good for 2010.
“We are really confident about this year. The club has recruited very well and the squad is the strongest it has ever been,’’ Ellis said.
“The recent addition of Lote Tuqiri is a big boost for the club. He is a fantastic player and he will be a great addition. He will be one of those players everyone looks out for on the team sheet and I’m really excited about playing alongside him.
“Lote has experience behind him in that he has played for his country in two codes and has been playing around the world, so he is going to bring a lot to our game.”
